The Chargers kicked off plans to celebrate their 50th season yesterday, inviting players from each decade to speak to the assembled media at Qualcomm Stadium, a place they're trying hard to vacate. They also had a secret guest make an entrance after Lance Alworth, Doug Wilkerson, Charlie Joiner, Darren Bennett and Philip Rivers did some talking.

And crack my egg if it wasn't the San Diego Chicken. He even spoke.

An interesting choice, The Chicken. In the early 1980s, when I covered the team on a day-to-day basis, late Chargers owner Gene Klein refused to allow fowl play on the field. The greatest mascot of them all wasn't the Chargers mascot so much as he was a fine-feathered spectator.

Still, it was The Chicken who provided the memorable moment following the infamous 1978 Holy Roller Game here vs. the Raiders, flopping on his back in the stands, as though he'd just been stun-gunned. A classic. Saw it just the other night on NFL Network.

“I was a quasi-asterisk of the Holy Roller Game,” The Chicken clucked. “I was the first to have a seizure after that play.”

Anyway, it was great to see The Chicken, who I suppose is waddling around in semi-retirement, and former and present Chargers. They were on hand to talk about the franchise and the fans' passion for the Bolts down through the years — even when they stunk, which they did more than they should have.

But there have been so many great moments, and the team plans to do it up right, along with the other former AFLians celebrating their 50th. In some cases, it's going to be the 1960s all over again.

“In our game here against Denver Monday night (Oct. 19) on ESPN, it will be one of our three NFL Legacy Games, and we'll be in our old powder blues and the Broncos will wear their browns, with the vertical-striped socks,” club COO Jim Steeg was saying. “The two other games are on the road, one the opener in Oakland — we still don't know what we're wearing then — and the other in Kansas City (Oct. 25, where they'll wear whites).

“On Nov. 29, we'll have our 50th Anniversary celebration, honoring the 50 greatest Chargers players, coaches, whatever, done by fan vote and a panel of experts. We'll also do the 50 greatest moments in our history, narrowed down to 20, and announce it here during our Washington game on Jan. 3. And NFL Films is putting together a 50-year DVD.”

The timing of this was superbly coincidental. The deadline for final payments from season-ticket holders is today.

“They're already committed to tickets, so the timing of this had nothing to do with that,” Steeg said. “We just thought this was a good time to do this. Season tickets have been going good, but they're still there to be bought. A lot of people think they're not available, but they're available.”

Available for fans to watch what could be the best Chargers team in those 50 years. If these guys aren't very, very good (health permitting), I won't be the only one surprised.

Their only championship season came in 1963, when Alworth, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln, Tobin Rote, Ron Mix, Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd led the Chargers to the AFL Championship. In 1978, Alworth, traded to the Cowboys in 1970, became the first AFL player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I went to Dallas and did win a Super Bowl,” Alworth said, “but I have to say the '63 Chargers were the best team I ever played on.”

Alworth and a few others expressed their views on the possibility of the franchise one day leaving town unless a new stadium can be built in the area. “Bambi” wants the squabbling and machinations to end.

“I think it's about time that we get all these guys in a room and say we're going to keep it here, and we're going to be the San Diego Chargers forever,” Alworth said.

Another Hall of Famer, Joiner, who retired in 1986 as then the most prolific pass catcher in NFL history, was on hand basically to talk about Air Coryell, how Don Coryell belongs in the Hall, and those who know the game realize the offense the team runs now under disciple Norv Turner is a modified copy of the original.

“One thing about his system, it was fan-friendly,” Joiner said. “Even the fans could call some of the plays. It was tailor-made for my talents. It brought a city together. Our system now is the same.”

Wilkerson, a tremendous guard, came here in 1971 from Houston. Joiner arrived from Cincinnati, but he also played with Wilkerson and the Oilers.

Cracked Joiner: “The Oilers got rid of some great players in those days.”

Alworth said that, after the 1963 championship game, a young fan asked him to sign his autograph twice.

When the great receiver wondered why, the kid replied: “Because it's two of yours for one of Tobin Rote's.”